AutoNotes vs Simple Practice: 2026 EHR Comparison

AutoNotes vs Simple Practice: AI First EHR Comparison

In the ever-evolving landscape of behavioral health, choosing the right Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is crucial for clinicians. This comparison examines two leading platforms in the market: AutoNotes and Simple Practice. While Simple Practice represents a traditional EHR approach, AutoNotes stands out as an AI-first solution designed to optimize documentation, enhance treatment planning, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.

Overview of Each Platform

AutoNotes

AutoNotes is an AI-powered clinical workspace specifically crafted for behavioral health professionals. It automates the documentation process by transforming spoken or written session input into structured notes, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and PHIPA regulations. With a focus on efficiency, AutoNotes helps clinicians reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and improve the quality of their notes.

Simple Practice

Simple Practice is a widely recognized EHR platform that offers a range of features suitable for mental health professionals and practitioners in various healthcare settings. While it provides essential functionalities such as scheduling, billing, and documentation, its approach is more traditional compared to the AI-driven capabilities of AutoNotes. Simple Practice is designed to be user-friendly but may not leverage automation to the same extent as AutoNotes.

Who Each Platform is Best For

• AutoNotes: Ideal for solo clinicians, group practices, and organizations seeking a highly efficient documentation process. It is particularly suited for those who prioritize HIPAA compliance and wish to leverage AI for enhanced productivity.
• Simple Practice: Best for practitioners who prefer a conventional EHR with a familiar interface. It appeals to those who require a comprehensive suite of features such as billing and client management without the need for advanced AI functionalities.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Documentation

AutoNotes excels in documentation through its AI-driven capabilities. Clinicians can dictate their notes, and AutoNotes automatically generates structured therapy notes in various formats, including SOAP and DAP. This process significantly reduces the time spent on documentation, with notes completed in under ten seconds.

On the other hand, Simple Practice requires users to manually input their notes, which can be time-consuming and may lead to inconsistencies. While it offers templates for documentation, the lack of automation means that clinicians spend more time on paperwork rather than patient care.

Treatment Plans

AutoNotes provides auto-generated treatment plans based on clinician input and previous notes. This feature not only saves time but also ensures continuity in patient care by allowing clinicians to build upon existing documentation. The system’s contextual understanding helps create tailored treatment plans that reflect the client's ongoing needs.

Simple Practice allows clinicians to create treatment plans but does not offer the same level of automation. Users must manually fill out treatment plans, which can lead to variations in documentation quality and may not always reflect the most current client information.

Scheduling

Both AutoNotes and Simple Practice offer scheduling functionalities. AutoNotes integrates scheduling with its documentation process, helping clinicians keep track of appointments while maintaining accurate records. This seamless integration enhances workflow efficiency.

Simple Practice also includes robust scheduling features, allowing clients to book appointments online. However, its scheduling capabilities are standalone and not as integrated with the documentation process as those in AutoNotes.

Billing

AutoNotes currently focuses on documentation and treatment planning but plans to expand its features, including billing functionalities, in the future. Clinicians can expect a complete workflow integration that ties together documentation and billing seamlessly.

Simple Practice includes comprehensive billing features, such as insurance verification and direct billing options. This makes it a strong choice for practices that prioritize financial management alongside clinical documentation.

Reporting

AutoNotes provides contextual insights based on the accumulated data within the platform, enabling clinicians to generate reports that support treatment evaluation and client progress tracking.

In comparison, Simple Practice offers standard reporting features that allow practices to track client demographics and service utilization. However, the depth of reporting may not be as nuanced as the insights provided by AutoNotes.

Compliance and PHI Handling

Both AutoNotes and Simple Practice prioritize compliance with HIPAA and PHIPA standards. AutoNotes has been built with compliance at its core, ensuring that all documentation workflows support regulatory requirements. Data is encrypted, and clinicians have control over the retention and deletion of their records.

Simple Practice also adheres to compliance standards, providing users with guidelines on maintaining privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). However, the traditional nature of its data handling may not offer the same level of automated compliance checks that AutoNotes provides.

Pricing

AutoNotes offers a competitive pricing structure starting at $29 per month, making it an affordable option for clinicians looking to leverage AI to enhance their practice. This pricing model allows for scalability as practices grow.

Simple Practice has a tiered pricing structure that can become quite expensive as additional features are added. While it offers a free trial, the cost may be a deterrent for solo practitioners or small practices seeking budget-friendly options.

Pros and Cons

AutoNotes

• Pros:
  • AI-driven documentation reduces time spent on paperwork.
  • Auto-generated treatment plans support continuity of care.
  • Affordable pricing starting at $29 per month.
  • Strong focus on compliance with HIPAA and PHIPA.
  • Seamless integration of scheduling and documentation.
• Cons:
  • Currently limited billing features.
  • May require a learning curve for those unfamiliar with AI tools.

Simple Practice

• Pros:
  • Comprehensive billing and client management features.
  • User-friendly interface familiar to many practitioners.
  • Strong online scheduling capabilities.
• Cons:
  • Manual documentation can be time-consuming.
  • Higher pricing tiers may not be budget-friendly for all clinicians.
  • Lacks AI-driven features that enhance efficiency.

Summary: When to Choose AutoNotes Over Simple Practice

Clinicians seeking an efficient, AI-powered documentation solution will find AutoNotes to be a compelling choice. Its emphasis on fast, automated documentation and treatment planning allows therapists to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork. For practices that prioritize compliance and wish to reduce administrative burdens, AutoNotes offers a streamlined experience that aligns with these goals.

Conversely, Simple Practice may be more suitable for those who prefer a conventional EHR with integrated billing and scheduling features. However, for clinicians looking to leverage technology to enhance their practice's efficiency and effectiveness, AutoNotes stands out as the preferred option.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while both AutoNotes and Simple Practice serve the needs of behavioral health practitioners, the choice between them ultimately depends on specific practice requirements. AutoNotes offers an innovative solution that addresses the challenges of documentation in a modern, AI-driven manner, making it a valuable asset for clinicians aiming to enhance their workflow and patient care.

References

• [source:1] Electronic Health Records (EHRs): A Primer for Health Care Professionals - National Institutes of Health (NIH)